Following on from our meeting in March, 2015, the above 4 groups have now been established (although the Youth Group is still at an early stage in the process). We hope these groups will help promote in a very real way a deeper vision of God’s Kingdom in our deanery.
Two more groups have now been added.
1) Communications: Aims to get information from
parishes about what’s going on and encourage more
people to get involved.
2) Steering Group: Made up of 2 members from each of the groups along with the priests and Bishop. Its
purpose is to try to co ordinate, encourage and guide
the work of each group and keep the focus on our shared vision.
Following this, a leadership course for the priests of the deanery was set up and presented by our two consultants, David Ramsay and Paul McColgan. This was presented over 4 separate days and was aimed at helping the priests to promote the shared vision.
During this time, the Communications group set up “Parish Conversations”. This involved a team of one priest and three lay people going to each parish in the deanery and presenting an update on how the process is emerging and seeking their views and support. These meetings (Conversations) helped to open up the process to the wider parish and encourage more people to get involved.
Finally, we were aware that the “Year of Mercy”, called by Pope Francis, began on 8th December, 2015. As a response to this a “Year of Mercy” event was held in St. Peter’s, Ardrossan, on Sunday, 6th December. It was a prayer service led by the laity and well attended. A social get-together followed.
The Spirituality Group set up two events just before Easter 2016.
1) A Penance Service entitled “A Church Seeking Forgiveness”,
took place in St. Bride’s, West Kilbride, on Palm Sunday.
2) A “Stations of the Cross” service was held in St. Mary’s, Irvine on Good Friday at 7pm and people from across the Deanery were involved in leading it.
Then, on Pentecost Sunday (15th May 2016), the Spirituality Group have arranged an “Emmaus Experience”, which is an invitation to reflect on the presence of Christ with us on our journey of faith. We listen to them, as the two disciples did on the road to Emmaus and try to discern where he is leading us at this time.
It will begin with a Liturgy of the Word in St. Mary’s, Saltcoats and proceed to St. Peter’s, Ardrossan for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This will be followed by refreshments in the Parish Centre and an opportunity to view the Exhibition which the Poverty Group have arranged.
Details of further events will be given in due course.